Hmmm, when I first became sick I never heard the word “herx” or technically the famous Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. I really never herxed very much but perhaps that’s because I learned about detoxing plus I think my detox pathways were working.
When I first heard the word “detox” I thought to myself “what in the world does detoxing have to do with lyme disease?”… Made no sense to me and sounded a bit nuts! But the more people talked about it the more I learned that detoxing had everything to do with getting better from lyme disease.
We all have toxins in our bodies and if one thinks about it, where do the toxins go if I we don’t help get rid of most of them? They get recycled back inside our bodies causing joint pain, fatigue, and the list goes on. So what does on have to lose by detoxing? Nothing except toxins! 🙂
So out I went and bought bags or cartons of Epsom Salts, bottles of hydrogen peroxide and a dry skin brush. And I started taking detox baths (first I dry skin brushed my entire body to open up the pores so the toxins could come out). To this day I continue to dry skin brush and take the detox baths because I believe we live in a toxic world.
When lyme bacteria die, they leave toxins that cause all sorts of joint pains, brain fog, neuro issues, and the list goes on. One of the worse toxins left over is Ammonia. Did you ever smell ammonia from your own body? If so, you have an overload of toxins and it’s time to get rid of them.
With permission from Dr. Jernigan below are some interesting articles:
http://www.academia.edu/260797/Lyme_Toxins_The_Primary_Cause_of_Your_Symptoms
Below are quick facts about Lyme Disease from Dr. David Jernigan:
http://www.hansacenter.com/pdfs/LymeDiseaseQuickFacts.pdf
How to Dry Skin Brush:
Buy a natural fiber brush (I prefer Bernard Jensen brand). Start at the lower part of your body and brush toward your heart using circular motions. I like the long handle so I can do my back. By dry skin brushing, one is opening up all the pores of your skin (also known as our 3rd kidney) so toxins can come out. It’s really amazing how much dead skin comes off and that dead skin is keeping those toxins inside.
Below is a link about Dry Skin Brushing:
http://www.whole-body-detox-diet.com/dry-skin-brushing.html
Detoxing Instructions:
Buy:
1. Thermometer
2. Natural Fiber Brush (for dry skin brushing to open up all the pores of the body). I like the Bernard Jensen Brush.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide (food grade from the drug store).
4. Ginger (fresh) 2 – 4 tablespoons wrapped in a cloth or tea ball (or nylon hose)
5. Mustard Powder
6. Cayenne Pepper
Detox Bath: Put the thermometer in the water to make sure the temperature is around 98 degrees, NOT warmer. (You do not want HOT water as that can make you feel worse).
As the water is running, add 4 to 6 cups of Epsom Salts and entire bottle(s) of Hydrogen Peroxide (32 oz., food grade is 3%). Some use 2 bottles
Before getting into the bath, you will need a Natural Fiber Brush and do a “dry skin brushing” to unclog your pores always brushing toward your heart, don’t forget to brush the soles of your feet too!
The Epsom Salts help draw out the toxins and at the same time the magnesium absorbs into your bloodstream, most people do NOT have enough magnesium. The Hydrogen Peroxide adds oxygen into your bloodstream which lyme spirochetes hate. Try to stay in the bath a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes, the longer, the better.
Detox Baths are NOT a one time thing. One must do them daily or start off slow and eventually build up to them. One bath will not accomplish much. NOTE: Most people feel “worse” during the first week of detox baths and eventually feel better since it is a cumulative effect.
Epsom Salts and Hydrogen Peroxide: Recent research has shown that one when soaks in a bath of magnesium sulfate, both magnesium and the sulfate independently increase measurably in the blood and urine. Magnesium sulfate helps stabilize Hydrogen Peroxide so that the ultimate breakdown into H2O and free oxygen is more gradual and functional to the process of benefiting the body. This research documents the very real beneficial aspects of this bath therapy.
Actions of Bath Ingredients:
Hydrogen Peroxide: a simple non-toxic molecule of H2O2 that is beneficial in oxidizing (breaking down) toxins as well as killing anaerobic microbes. It will also detoxify pesticides and petroleum-based toxins and oxidize metals. Hydrogen Peroxide is also naturally produced by macrophages in the body to kill harmful bacteria.
The Epsom Salt Council reports this:
Magnesium is the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth-most positivity charged ion in the body.
The National Academy of Sciences reports: Most Americans are magnesium deficient helping to account for our society’s high rate of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies and stress-related illnesses.
Raising magnesium levels may improve heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, lowering blood pressure. Flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
Ginger: functions to open up pores of the skin and increase the blood flow at the surface of the skin so that the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide can do its work in detoxifying poisons and kill bacteria and fungi. The pores open wider so that the magnesium sulfate can be more readily absorbed. Ginger is invigorating and can stimulate perspiration for the elimination of toxins.
2. Foot Bath: There are so many “recipes” for foot baths, you can have fun with them and I do them when I am sitting at my computer or knitting on my couch relaxing.
***The Soles of the Feet have the most pores compared to any other part of the body (about 2000 pores per foot)***
Do this 2 to 3 times a day or more if you can for at least 30 minutes.
Mustard/Pepper Bath: Mix the following ingredients in warm water: Dry Mustard Powder (1 tablespoon), Cayenne Pepper (1 teaspoon), 1/2 tsp. dry Ginger Powder, 1/2 tsp. Rosemary Powder and soak for at least 30 minutes. There should be enough water to cover just above the ankles.
This foot soak is used as relief from general aches and pains, toxic headaches, increase blood and lymph circulation as well as giving a sense of well-being.
3. Dry Skin Brush: Once again, a natural fiber brush (can be found at any drug store), brush your entire body toward your heart. Purpose: Getting rid of dead skin that are clogging your pores and keeping toxins inside.
4. Internal Cleansing: Dr. Jernigan’s Paragen , wormwood, or any reputable product in order to get rid of parasites that come from drinking water, eating red meat, raw fish, and processed foods. I also like “living clay” or bentonite clay to drink internally but please read the instructions as it must be taken on an empty stomach. It is a fantastic binder of toxins and heavy metals and your body will not only eliminate them but also rid your body of parasites as well..
NOTE: People on antibiotics should NOT drink any type of clay.
5. Building Immune System: I drink Green Vibrance Powder (tastes really yucky but so healthy!). I also take extra Vitamin C (rose hips are great).
When a person is sick with any illness it robs the body of these much-needed nutrients.
When a person’s immune system gets stronger, their body is more capable of fighting off bacteria and viruses on their own. Yes, lyme disease causes viruses too.
6. Diet: Avoid all sugar, alcohol, breads, carbs as they convert into sugar, try to eat healthy and avoid acidic foods (soda – any type is the worse thing a person could put into their body), very acidic. Drink as much filtered water as possible (adding fresh lemon is very good), at least 6 glasses a day (I don’t believe in bottled water, they say it’s really tap water).
7. Stress: Stress is detrimental to anyone’s health and to try to eliminate as much stresses from your life can only benefit you. Of course there are stresses one can not avoid but one can learn how to deal with it in a healthier fashion, having a stressful day? Learn deep breathing exercises, watch a funny movie.
8. When you feel strong enough, try to start exercising even if it is only yoga as stretching is so good for you and also relaxing. There is meditation if you can’t exercise. As you build up your immune system you will get strong enough to do whatever exercise of you like.
Purpose: you are getting oxygen into your bloodstream and lyme bacteria hate oxygen! Plus the extra benefits of exercise is it makes you feel good mentally because it naturally raises your serotonin levels and helps with depression.
9. Find a licensed Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, LDT is another fantastic way to rid your body of toxins.
If you can start doing some of these things, your body will love you for it and you will start feeling so good!
10. Positive thinking – It takes training of the mind but you if really want to do it, you can. We all have choices on how we view life, one can choose to be negative, angry or bitter or just accept that you are ill because acceptance is half the battle with any disease and leads to a more healthy way of life by dealing with it.
What this does for Lyme: By detoxing you are ridding your body of the toxins and ammonia that lyme bacteria cause. By building up your immune system, your body can start killing off the bacteria on it’s own.
Extras:
Juicing or Green Smoothies
detox foot pads
sauna (if you have access to one)
liver/gallbladder cleanse
colonics
coffee enema
massage
lymph drainage
rebounders
organic body products
water testing
parasite cleanse
candida cleanse
essential oils for detoxification
magnet therapy for electromagnetic stress
Some products that reduce toxic load (and even rid the body of toxins) is Dr. Jernigan’s Neuro Antitox (there are 3 different formulas (I used the CNS/PNS Formula) and also Molybdenum is helpful.
Detoxifying is much like exercising, you need to do it regularly and in consistent doses in order to get results. You won’t get miracle results from one-time use.
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